Top 13 things that Happened this week! Congratulations to Rhonda Nelson!

1.  Secretary Treasurer Tony Speelman on this week's negotiations with Stop & Shop and King Kullen: "We will not allow them to GUT our Healthcare." #standStrong.

2.  Here's a shocker alert, Humans are trumping robots at self-scanners.  Only optimism, self-scanners have tons of simple deficiencies 

3.  Check out UFCW 21's countdown till strike and show your solidarity with them.  Update on last week's story- Maximus workers in Texas are on day-nine of their strike with no date scheduled to resume negotiations.

4.  Walmart workers went on strike in Miami on Friday, in protest of firings.  They also offered a job back to an employee who was fired after helping an assault victim, problem is, the former employee doesn't want his job at Walmart back.

5.  Target has a new sustainable product gouge. 

6. The Shutdown: is OVER! By the way, the Labor Department was operating at just 20% during the shutdown.

7.  Fairway introduced new Fairway Coffee pods! Hooray

8.  Pittsburgh is solving their Food Desert problems. 

9.  Looming SNAP Cuts are putting our country in danger of falling off the #HungerCliff- Find our more about the growing anxiety in families throughout the country as SNAP (food-stamps) are set to expire on October 31st.

10.  NYC Mayoral Candidate Bill de Blasio stopped by to support Fast-Food workers this week.  He said: “The bottom line is, this is an unsupportable situation where every day hard-working people can’t make ends meet, and the companies involved certainly can do more,” de Blasio said as a squad of fast-food workers cheered behind him, and reporters scribbled notes on steno-pads. “And it is right, it is right, for leaders in government to step up on behalf of these workers and help them organize to win their rights."

11.  Graphic of the week via ProLaborAlliance:

12. Check out a sneak-peak of the Food Chain Workers Alliance new video- "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast"

13. Breast Cancer Walk is THIS Sunday! Register here!

Like the news? Follow us on Twitter!

14. Bonus: Our Recorder, Rhonda Nelson, for being named one of the top 50 influential women on Long Island this week! Well deserved and we're proud to have her in fighting for our UNION!

Top 13 Things That Went On This Week: Oct. 11

1.  We've signed another contract extenstion with Stop & Shop and King Kullen, bringing our deadline to midnight, November 2nd.  Supermarket News covered the extension also. 2.  Amazon's German workers threaten to strike before Christmas. 3.  250 workers in Houston Texas at Maximus Coffee (most of which are UFCW members) went on strike yesterday, in protest to managment's proposals to cut wages & benefits, increase premiums, and eliminating overtime...even on holidays. 4.  Safeway is exiting the Chicago market and disposing of its' 74 stores by 2014.    6. The Shutdown: Tired of this nonsense? Senator Warren is too- Check out what she had to say.  Business groups are seeing a major loss of influence in the Republican party...Why? The Tea Party.  And businesses are not happy to be hurting during the shutdown.  Republicans are getting the most blame for the shutdown....And apparently Americans like 'Nickelback more than Congress' 7.  32BJ has a ULP strike in Chelsea Manhattan, check picket line info here. 8.  Postal workers have elected new leadership, dedicated to building a movement. 9.  Anxiety is growing in families throughout the country as SNAP (food-stamps) are set to expire on October 31st. 10.  Fast-Food workers in Oregon have won a union! 11.  Interested in Immigration Reform? Check out The Daily Show's take on reforming immigration in U.S. from last night. 12. Another deadly factory fire has left 10 dead. 13.  Hospitals and insurers throughout the nation are trying to figure out how to reduce costs from patients dubbed "Super-Utlizers" - (Good read on ACA, healthcare) 14. Breast Cancer Walk is next Sunday! Register here! Like the news? Follow us on Twitter!

Second Contract Extension Signed with Stop & Shop, King Kullen...Deadline: Nov. 2nd

October 11, 2013:  Negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covering over 10,000 UFCW Local 1500 members working for Stop and Shop and King Kullen Supermarkets and Pharmacy have been ongoing now for months.

Our Union negotiators felt it was important to sign another extension through November 2, 2013, so we may continue to remain patient while thoroughly reviewing every option and every issue the ACA has created. Our committee is doing everything we can to resolve the difficult issues and cost increases created by this new Federal law.

Read the full update here: www.ufcw150.org/contract2013

Maximus Coffee Workers Strike in Houston to Protest Company’s Plan to Slash Benefits

The UFCW International just released a statement regarding over 250 workers (mostly UFCW member) going on strike to protest company plans to reduce wages & benefits, increase premiums and eliminate overtime.  This is outrageous, we stand with our union brothers and sisters at Local 455.

Houston Texas: Over 250 Maximus Coffee Group workers in Houston, a majority of who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 455, went on strike this morning to protest the company’s plan to reduce wages from 25 to 50 percent per hour, reduce retirement benefits, increase insurance premiums, and eliminate overtime pay. Maximus Coffee Group’s U.S. headquarters is located in Houston.    

“Maximus Coffee workers in Houston are simply trying to protect middle class jobs and their benefits after working hard to make their company profitable,” said UFCW Local 455 President Bill Hopkins. 

 “I hope this strike sends a strong message to the company and moves the negotiation process to a successful conclusion.” “I’ve worked at this plant for 41 years and for Maximus Coffee since 2006 when they purchased the plant from Maxwell House,” said Robert Barnes. “I haven’t gotten a real raise since 2009, and don’t know how I’ll be able to support my family if my wages and benefits are reduced.” 

What Went on This Week: ACA, Fairway Openings, Walmart Struggles

1.  We've released another update on negotiations with Stop & Shop and King Kullen

2.  The amazingly delicious (and union) Fairway is opening up in Tribeca....And in Suffolk County in 2014.

3.  Fresh & Easy filed for bankruptcy, officially.  The details: Fresh and Easy owes their parent company, Tesco, $738 million.

4.  More Fresh: Fresh Direct has done the unthinkable, convinced customers to buy fish...over the internet.

5.  The Teamsters are back to work after rejecting the latest contract offer from Wegmans.  Around 900 workers rejected the offer.  The two sides are continuing to talk through the weekend, and expect to have a contract by Oct. 15.

6.  We hear a lot of bad things on the ACA for companies, but major drug stores have to a lot gain from health care reform.

7. The GOP Shutdown is not only hurting real people, it's hurting businesses: Business Week reports many companies can't hire new employees, and are finding it harder and harder to sympathize with their default business party, the Republicans.  Two videos to watch on the Shutdown, 1) John Stewart.  2) President Obama tore into Republicans on the shutdown, which is worth the watch.

8.  The march for Immigrant Respect & Dignity is tomorrow, UFCW will be there.

9.  Earlier this year Walmart struggled to stock shelves, now, they're cutting supply orders as unsold merchandise is piling up in stores. Which leads to the question media outlets are asking, are Walmart customers disappearing? And of course, Walmart's Bangladesh safety scheme is dividing the Democratic Party...

10.  In These Times asks: Is the Fast-Food workers' fight for $15 real?  

11.  The Food Marketing Institute is urging customers not to panic during the government shut down, and to use their SNAP allotment wisely.

12. A CNN poll shows, people in unions are happier. 

13. Disney World has promoted their Part-Time workers to Full-Time for Obamacare benefits.  And the question still looms, which is better, Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act?

Bonus: Check out our October Event Calendar.